Month: March 2019

Burn it to the ground!

/ samandang

Shootings. Abortions. Slaves. Depression. Disease. Crisis.

Sometimes we are bombarded with a variety of the worlds problems and we might feel it for a split second and then go back to thinking well its the worlds problems…not mine. But what if it was our problem, a problem that lies in each of our hearts taking root. A problem that Leigh Ramsey founder of SHE Rescue homes says “ To succumb to the enormity of the problem is to fail the one.” To fail the one. Who is that ONE in front of you today. Is it your neighbor who is struggling with depression, or your co- worker who is in the middle of divorce? Maybe its someone you know personally or something you believe in but have never taken much action to fight?

When something comes up that requires action, we think, “I’m only one person. What can I do anyway?” Isn’t that the very thing we think before we choose not to help the one? The result is that we sit back and wait for others to make the first move — that is, if anyone else is willing to make the effort.

BUT what if we tried? What if we shed our fears and inhibitions and others did as well? What if we challenged ourselves to stand up and be counted, and we each made a difference in our own special way? Do you know what this does? Not just for you or even for the one you’re helping..

It creates the ripple. YOU KNOW IT DOES. You see things go viral every week, someone stands against something that isn’t right by speaking out against or donating to a cause and they share it and then what happens..MORE people feel inspired to do the same! One person changing one persons life. It starts there. Do NOT let the enemy of your soul TRICK you into thinking you cannot shape history..you are meant to do just that. With what you have right now. This moment.

As Steve Jobs said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

You Can Make a Difference (If You Try)

Still unconvinced that one person can make a difference? Tell that to the child that was fostered and for the first time understood what love was, tell that to the neighbor who is struggling with depression who receives a card and a coffee at the exact moment. Over the course of my life I have had several people pour into me, something I am eternally grateful for. Its this very thing that caught my eye long ago. That even if only one person believes in me its enough. Which in turn I have come to believe that if I am that one person in another life that needs it most..its enough. We are all looking to receive and give love. It really is that simple.

Its about getting our eyes off our selves sometimes to SEE the one before us. I think a great acronym for the O.N.E.  stands for  Our Next Effort. It just takes effort folks, you don’t need to be a millionaire, or have a million subscribers to change the world. We all know that there is power in the numbers, and numbers is what the world buys because its sexy, invigorating and inspiring. All of that is true but so is Believing in the power of ONE. Don’t allow what you don’t have to affect what you do have. I refuse to believe that most people don’t really care about changing the world, I believe most people don’t know where to start and the enormity of the worlds problems makes us stand still collectively.

Start Here:

Believe. Have faith that one person can make a difference, and that one person is you.

Act. There are opportunities all around you. Don’t wait for someone else to make the first move. Choose one and do something about it.

Lead. Be the change that you want to see in the world. Don’t just talk a good game.

Transform. Throw a pebble into the water and create ripples. Little wins create momentum; consistency can turn into lasting change.

Don’t Look to Others; Look to Yourself

Stop waiting for others to “move”, it doesn’t work like that because everyone else is waiting for you to move which keeps most people at a stand still; complaining how bad the world is. Which only fuels the problem. You have great power inside you, you have power that the world needs and power that your creator deposited into you for a reason. Light a candle in the dark, you can always see the candle in the room right? It does light up the room a small bit, now light a hundred candles and you can read by the light its so bright.

Is it cliche? Sure it is. Is it any less true or vital? Absolutely not.

There is power in numbers. BUT One person can get things started; a second person can create some momentum; a third person may influence others to join in.

Disrupt the CYCLE of apathy in your world. BURN it to the ground.

BIG changes are coming for the Platts!

/ samandang

I sat across from an older woman who has influenced this community, we shared stories of the challenges living in Asia and what we thought it would be VS what it actually is. As we sipped our way too sweet coffee she said something that shot like an arrow thru my soul.

“When you’re tired Angie learn to rest, not quit”

How does someone boil down all your thoughts into just nine simple words? We had been praying over the next season, praying Big prayers. The kind that make your stomach twist. We have known for a while He was calling us to bigger things which equal bigger faith. At the time we just didn’t understand the timing of it all.

OUR NEXT SEASON:

We have learned much in the last five years, about living cross culturally, Thai culture, the problem of the trafficking world and what is and isn’t being done. We will always be learning; it’s a complex issue with many many layers. As we have sought HIM what we can do about it long term we have turned our hearts to a missing puzzle piece in the whole thing.. the older age bracket of the kids coming out. How very little support and opportunities these kids have and what can be done about it. We will be starting an organization called S.O.A.R Int. (stands for School of arts and redemption) that will help these kids move into the next phase of their life. Adulthood. Where they will be discipled and educated simultaneously so that they can fulfill their destiny in which God has for them. We have begun the processes, assembled our Board, begun the logistics of getting set up. We have been moving slowly with our ear to the ground listening carefully to where He was leading.

BUT FIRST..REST AND LEARN:

Before we even began thinking about what all this would look like we have been praying for spiritual mentors. After four years of praying for that, God has finally brought them thru an Australian couple that leads a church that is focused on outreach and discipleship. We knew immediately this was “them”. It made sense to us that one of the core pillars of SOAR was going to be discipleship and one of the core beliefs in this church was the same. They came to visit Thailand and God highlighted them to both Sam and I. We visited their church a few months ago and were blown away how they minister to the broken, how they take the gospel to the streets and how they love well. We knew that to start SOAR we needed to mentor under them and learn how to disciple successfully and intentionally. We realized at the same time God was calling us to rest.  After five years, it’s time to take an extended furlough (we are thinking about a year) before returning to Thailand to start SOAR. As we wrestled with this for a few weeks He has made it ABUNDANTLY clear that is what we are to do. More clear than us coming to Thailand that first time! “When you are tired learn to rest Angie” It’s not an easy choice to leave all that you have known and all your kids have known as home for the last five years, to set down for a season the vision that God has poured inside you for years, but.. we are ready to say YES to God once again. Ready to receive what He has, and to be poured into in this next season.

WHAT DOES THIS TAKE?

Again, it seems he isn’t allowing us to relax our faith muscles. Big faith is required for all this. Faith that the logistics line up. Faith in all the finances that it will take to make it happen. Faith that our kids will thrive and so will we.  Our Visas are up in June, our house contract, and the kids school will be finished then as well. SO we are planning to leave by June. We are praying that He is going to make away, and in fact we know He will. All our eggs are in HIS basket..again.

Please pray for our family as we say goodbye; even if only for a season to a country and people we have grown to love. PRAY for logistics, finances and our weary hearts as we make this move. Some of the things we need funding for is- plane tickets, a car, housing and in general getting set up again. Please consider  investing in what God is doing thru the Platt family! It takes His whole family involved to move mountains and do His work. We are anticipating BIG things in this next season to prepare us for the season after. We are so grateful many of you have been with us in this journey from the beginning as we committed our work to God and we know that you will be with us as we commit our rest and filling up to Him as well.

The bigger the vision the bigger the preparation!

 

Thank you all! Stay Tuned!

Love The Platt Fam